METHOD FOR OPERATING A STEERING SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AS WELL AS A CORRESPONDING STEERING SYSTEM

• US 20200130731A1
• Filed: 10/30/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: WESENBERG, Andre
• Granted Patent: US 11,352,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/021 restraining movement of the steering column or steering wheel hub, e.g. restraining means controlled by ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/001 Mechanical components or aspects of steer-by-wire systems, not otherwise provided for in this maingroup
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/04 electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/046 Controlling the motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0481 monitoring the steering system, e.g. failures
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/091 Hydraulic steer-by-wire systems, e.g. the valve being actuated by an electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/092 the electric motor being connected to the final driven element of the steering gear, e.g. rack

Abstract

A method for operating a steering system for a motor vehicle, wherein the steering system has at least one steering lever and at least one electric motor for shifting the steering lever so as to cause a steering movement in the presence of a steering input, and wherein the electric motor is electrically connected to a current source via cabling. In doing so, it is provided that the electric motor is actuated and an electric current flowing between the current source and the electric motor is measured in order to check an electrical connection between the current source and the electric motor under the condition that there is no steering input present.

Claims

1. A method for operating a steering system for a motor vehicle, wherein the steering system has at least one steering lever and at least one electric motor for shifting the steering lever so as to cause a steering movement in the presence of a steering input, and wherein the electric motor is electrically connected to a current source via cabling, wherein the electric motor is actuated and an electric current flowing between the current source and the electric motor is measured in order to check an electrical connection between the current source and the electric motor under the condition that there is no steering input present, wherein

the electric motor is actuated to generate or receive reactive current such that the steering movement stops, and/or

the electric motor is actuated for shifting the steering lever, wherein the actuation takes place when the vehicle is stopped and/or with a steering lever set by means of a locking mechanism.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein an alternating current motor or a three-phase motor is used as the electric motor.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the actuation to generate or receive the reactive current takes place by applying a direct-current or at least a direct-current portion to the electric motor.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the actuation takes place when the motor vehicle is stopped,

when it is determined that a driver of the motor vehicle is not in a driver'"'"'s seat of the motor vehicle and/or in an interior of the motor vehicle, and/or

upon unlocking of at least one door of the motor vehicle or upon actuation of an ignition lock from a locked setting.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor is actuated such that it effects an actuating force on the steering lever, wherein the actuating force is less than the static friction force between at least one substrate of the motor vehicle and a wheel of the motor vehicle, said wheel being arranged on the substrate and steerable by means of the steering lever.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a position of the steering lever is determined during the actuation, and the actuating force is reduced in the event of a change in the position.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the actuation only occurs with a steering lever set by means of the locking mechanism.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism for setting the steering lever is set before the actuation.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism provides an end stop for the steering lever, against which the steering lever is pushed due to the actuation of the electric motor.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein the actuation to generate or receive the reactive current takes place by applying a direct-current or at least a direct-current portion to the electric motor.

12. The method according to claim 2, wherein the actuation takes place when the motor vehicle is stopped,

when it is determined that a driver of the motor vehicle is not in a driver'"'"'s seat of the motor vehicle and/or in an interior of the motor vehicle, and/or

upon unlocking of at least one door of the motor vehicle or upon actuation of an ignition lock from a locked setting.

13. The method according to claim 3, wherein the actuation takes place when the motor vehicle is stopped,

when it is determined that a driver of the motor vehicle is not in a driver'"'"'s seat of the motor vehicle and/or in an interior of the motor vehicle, and/or

upon unlocking of at least one door of the motor vehicle or upon actuation of an ignition lock from a locked setting.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein the electric motor is actuated such that it effects an actuating force on the steering lever, wherein the actuating force is less than the static friction force between at least one substrate of the motor vehicle and a wheel of the motor vehicle, said wheel being arranged on the substrate and steerable by means of the steering lever.

15. The method according to claim 3, wherein the electric motor is actuated such that it effects an actuating force on the steering lever, wherein the actuating force is less than the static friction force between at least one substrate of the motor vehicle and a wheel of the motor vehicle, said wheel being arranged on the substrate and steerable by means of the steering lever.

16. The method according to claim 4, wherein the electric motor is actuated such that it effects an actuating force on the steering lever, wherein the actuating force is less than the static friction force between at least one substrate of the motor vehicle and a wheel of the motor vehicle, said wheel being arranged on the substrate and steerable by means of the steering lever.

17. The method according to claim 2, wherein a position of the steering lever is determined during the actuation, and the actuating force is reduced in the event of a change in the position.

18. The method according to claim 3, wherein a position of the steering lever is determined during the actuation, and the actuating force is reduced in the event of a change in the position.

19. The method according to claim 4, wherein a position of the steering lever is determined during the actuation, and the actuating force is reduced in the event of a change in the position.

20. The method according to claim 5, wherein a position of the steering lever is determined during the actuation, and the actuating force is reduced in the event of a change in the position.

10. A steering system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one steering lever and at least one electric motor for shifting the steering lever so as to cause a steering movement in the presence of a steering input, and wherein the electric motor is electrically connected to a current source via cabling, wherein the steering system is designed to check an electrical connection between the current source and the electric motor under the condition that there is no steering input present, to actuate the electric motor, and to measure a current flowing between the current source and the electric motor,

wherein the electric motor is actuated to generate or receive reactive current such that the steering movement stops, and/or

the electric motor is actuated for shifting the steering lever, wherein the actuation takes place when the vehicle is stopped and/or with a steering lever set by means of a locking mechanism.